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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

WHO AM I?#theblogginglounge

So okay...my name is Jo. I am, like most people, very complex. I can be different things at different times.

I am a daughter. Momma is 91. Dad passed away in 1978.

I am a sister. I have one brother and one sister.

I am a wife. Roomy has been with me over 31 years.

I am a mom. I gave birth twice, one girl and one boy. I also inherited four children when I married Roomy. He had two girls and two boys. Life happened and the girls divorced us. The boys are still part of our lives, but one more than the other, partly because one moved out of state and isn't interested in what is going on here. We have adjusted to this. Can't say we ever really accept it, but it is fact and we can't dwell on what we've lost because we have three families who need us to dwell on them and we happily do so.

About 2 years ago I retired for the second time and finally last December, a year ago, Roomy retired for the third and final time. It's been a year of adjustment for us and honestly, it's been pretty easy in most areas. Probably the hardest part has been finding our alone time. Or should I say my alone time. He goes to the downstairs "sports arena" to watch TV every evening and has done so for many years. We cannot watch much TV together because there are very few shows we both like. That's fine because I'm usually on FB and watching anyway, so there wouldn't be much conversation. It's the morning time that was hard. He likes to get up EARLY and I'm a night owl and sleep in. I also like to quietly drink my coffee and NOT TALK. He is a chatty boy in the morning. He has learned to sit quietly until I speak. It's all good. :-)

I write in streaks. I have a lot to say now and then, yet other times I feel mute. I suppose it has a great deal to do with how busy I am with household projects or family business or just grand kids. I don't like to write in small windows of time. I like to write when I can write until my head is empty. It fills with stories and characters and ideas and blog thoughts and eventually ~ I just have to sit and purge the gray matter until I am clear headed once again. That's when I HAVE to write. My goal has always been to be disciplined enough to sit for at least an hour a day and write SOMETHING. Alas, I am not that disciplined. I apparently am a writer of need. Full head...write. It works for me, so...

I was for many years a hairdresser and I always said that, right after my name. Now, I just say my name. I am kind of happy about that. I feel like I am a woman without a title and I am good with that because, as I said earlier, I am complex and many different people. So I'm now just Jo. The girl with many hats and a smile for everyone. And a hug for most!

"Just Jo" is perfect to me. :) I love that you and Roomy have separate t.v. viewing, we have that here too. My sis and I will watch our shows and the bro-in-law will go into the front room and watch his boring stuff. It works. We gather for coffee in the morning before the bro goes to work, no big surprise, I'm the chatty one. I can't help it! I've been laying horizontally for 4 or 5 hours in complete silence, altho probably not really because, again, no big surprise, I talk in my sleep but not to real people! When I wake up in the morning I feel like I'll burst if I don't say something. - You would probably make me sleep out in your barn and keep me locked out until noon! :) - I loved this post. I love the little window into your world that you share and what a wonderful world it is.. <3

Yep to sleeping in...also not so chatty in the am...but a tiny bit more than you! Also have many sides to me. Hard to not to have a child involved. In your life. I hope that gets better because it HURTS.. Especially when there is just one. Tai

A woman without a title and a writer of need - I absolutely love both those descriptions! Glad you and Roomy are finding the flow of retirement. Not all couples do so easily. I love your writing and am glad to be back in a position to be able to read it more. :)

I'm so happy about this new group and the following is looking very promising...hope it continues. Good to have you here and back at the writing desk! Those descriptions you speak of, are definitely ME these days. And ME is happy.

"Just Jo," your lovely smiles have buoyed me a lot in the past. I've learned and pieces of your life along the way but it's good to read this "overview." I know how much you're enjoying your retirement--many, many happy years to you and Roomy.

We are really loving it and look forward to not being in Michigan one day. We dream of the southern states being our home in time.Nothing to fear as long as you financially prepare. One can always work a part time jo if boredom sets in.Thanks for visiting, Tyler!

Complex people are more interesting, I always say. I didn't know some of the details about your family....wish I could offer some nugget of wisdom but I haven't been voluntarily in touch with my own family for years so I guess I'm "that son" as well. I'm very glad to know you though, even if it's 'only' via the internet. You're good people, in my book.

Thank you, Steven. I believe you know how fond I am of you, my friend. Our family is not so different from others that I know. We had a goal to raise independent thinkers who took responsibility for their actions. I believe we did that. I also believe choices they made or are making, feel right to them. My job is to keep them in my prayers and my heart and should they want to return to us in any way, be welcoming. That's what I do. It's up to each of them to reach out or to continue to ignore us. I am grateful that they are healthy and apparently happy.

Alone time--how I can relate. After years of it, I took it for granted. M and i are both retired. Well, he's semi-retired but works at home. It's nearly impossible to find that space and time alone I grew accustomed to over the years. He's not a go-out-with-the-guys kind of person, so he's home most of the time.Our house is one level, so there's no escaping up or down. Still, it's great to be retired and i'm slowly getting used to finding my alone time outside of my home. On balance, no serious complaint.Carolwww.carolcassara.com

Exactly! I hear you. I prefer my alone time in my house, but I sometimes have to just go to my office and ignore him. Being alone is much about not talking or listening. He will never get that. He's a chatter! But he's also a really good man and I like having him around so, I adjust.

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I have written and recorded two (2) audio books.
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